Process of mining sulphur



1 Feb. 16 1926.

W. c. AVERILL, JR 'PRocEss oF MINING SULPHUR Filed Deo. 30

IN VEN TOR. iff/umm aA//m/a JH. BY @/w'cc l A TTORNEYS Patented Feb. 16, 1926. Y

UNITED STATES r11,573,026 PATENT oFFlcE.v

WILLARD c. AVERILL, Jn., or Housron, TEXAS.

PROCESS OF, MINING SULPHUR.

Application led December 30, 1924. Serial No. 758,892.

To all whom it may conce-ML.'

Be it known that I, IVILLARD C. AvEluLL, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Mining Sulphur, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

In sulphur mining, it is the general practice to drill a tubular Well to the sulphur bearing formation, and to pump'hot water to the sulphur formation so that the sulphur is melted and may be pumped to the surface in liquid form. It has been found that the' sulphur formation has numerous channels and cavities or voids, and that the hot Water pumped into the well escapes into these channels and cavities which frequently are of considerable size. This not only results in the waste of the hot Water, but prevents maintaining the hot water at the proper points to melt the sulphur, so that the discharge of sulphur is greatly reduced and often is entirely prevented. Numerous schemes to prevent the escape of the hot water from the well through these channels and cavities have been tried, but, so far as I am aware, without success.

The object, therefore, .of this invention is to provide a method or process, for controlling the hot water in the vicinity of the .well by llingin the channels and cavities in the sulphur formation to prevent the undue waste of the hot water supplied for melting the sulphur.

For a detailed description of one form of the improved process which is at present deemed preferable, reference may be had to the following specification and to the accompanying drawing in which the ligure illustrated shows one arrangement of well pipes in section and arranged in such manner that the principle of my improved process may be indicated. -y It has been found that the geological formation in the sulphur fields along the Gulf Coast of the United States where sulphur .is now largely obtained is substantially the same, comprising the usual surfacestratum A, a sand formation B underneath the surface stratum, an intermediate formation C of clay, shale, etc., underneath the sand formation, and the sulphur formation D next below, as indicated in the drawing. The numeral 1 indicates 'awell casing or pipe which extends from the surface into the sulphur formation D. The pipe 1 differs from the usual well pipe or `casing in that it is provided with perforations or openings 2, in itsportion passing through the sand formation B, and with similar-perforations 3 iu its portion extending into the sulphur formation D. The perforations 2 are provided to permit sand and water from the sand body B to enter the pipe 1 and flow through the pipe to the sulphur formation D, passing out from the pipe at its lower openl end and through the perforations 3, so that the sand fills up the channels and cavities in the sulphur formation. In order to aid the iiow of the sand and to prevent the clogging or plugging of the pipe, I '-referably cause air to circulate through the Wellifrom its bottom upwardly in sufficient quantity to agitate the mixture of water and sand and to allow it to be freely expelled into theI sulphur bearing strata. For this purpose, an air pipe 4 is provided within the pipe 1 which extends almost to the" bottom thereof, and passes out of the upper end of the pipe l, which is closed at 5 as shown. The air pipe 4 is connected to a suitable source of compressed air and is provided with a regulating valve 6 4of the usual type. A pipe 7, having a pressure gauge 8 and control valve 9 is also connected with the interior of the pipe 1 at its top, as shown, and leads to the atmosphere. The purpose of this pipe is to prvide means for determining the air pressure within pipe 1, and to regulate the same in a manner readily understood. If desired, the valve 9 may be of any suitable type of automatic pressure regulating valve. While I have described the use of air for causing the sand to flow down, I do not desire to be restricted thereto, since the sand may flow o f its own accord or other suitable means for assisting its liow may be employed. Usuf ally, there is sufficient water in the sand formation B to cause the sand to flow into the pipe 1 as described,` however, for cases in which there is insufficient water, I have provided a water supply pipe .10 as shown.

lAfter the channels and cavities in the. sultion, I do not wish to be understood as being limited to the details of procedure therein set forth, for various changes. may bemade by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim and desire to protect,` by Letters Patent is:

.1. The process of mining sulphur which comprises drilling through to the sulphur bearing stratum and causing sand to flow from an intermediate stratum to fill the i channels and cavities in the sulphur bearing stratum and retard the escape of hot water from the vicinity of the Well.

2. The process of mining sulphur which comprises drilling through to the sulphur bearing stratum and causing a mixture of sand and Water to flow from an intermediate stratum to the sulphur bearing stratum to ll the channels and cavities therein with sand and thereby retard the escape of hot water from the vicinity of the well.

3. The process of mining^sulphur which `comprises drilling a well through to the sulphur bearing stratum, causing a mixture of water and sand to flow from an intermediate stratum into the Well and causing the same to flow out of the well to the sulphur bearing stratum whereby the channels and cavities therein are filled with sand to retard the escape of hot water.

A. The process of mining sulphur which 'comprises drilling a Well through to the sulphur bearing stratum, supplying a mixture of Water and sand from an intermediate stratum into the Well, agitating said mixture with air introduced at the bottom of the Well to prevent its clogging thewell and to cause the same to be expelled freely to the Sulphur bearing stratum whereby the channels and cavities therein are filled With sand to prevent the escape of hot Water.

5. The process of mining sulphur which comprises drilling a well through the sul- 'phur bearing statum, and introducing Water to be expelled freely into the sulphur bearv ing stratum to fill the channels and cavities therein with sand.

Signed at Houston, Texas, this 23rd day of December 1924.

WILLABD o. AVERILL, JR. 

